Some vibrant artworks have popped up in the Seaport District, offering a colorful alternative to the abundance of towering glass buildings that line the waterfront neighborhood.

 
Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel unveiled his latest installation, “AIR SEA LAND,” this week, a series of large-scale sculptures placed near pedestrian crossings along Seaport Boulevard that feature his signature “kaleidoscopic” style.

 
The polychromatic artworks, which were commissioned and funded by WS Development, in partnership with Justkids, range in size from 8 to 12 feet tall. They sit on the median strip that cuts through the neighborhood of high-rises, from Sleeper Street to Pier Four Boulevard, according to an announcement about the public display.

 
The seven geometric sculptures by San Miguel, who is a featured artist at the HUBweek festival this year, include a large bird-like creature with a human body, called “Mythology: Mythological Being 2”; a deer, titled “Diversity: Wild”; and a squirrel holding a bird called “Diversity: Domestic.”

 
“The sculptures portray how animals developed — first by light and water, untouched by human influence, and then later shaped by humans,” according to a description of the work. “Additionally, he examines the importance of mythology in the shared history of animals and mankind.”

 
In a statement, San Miguel, who considers himself a multidisciplinary artist, said his goal is to transform and enhance everyday spaces where people roam, bringing optimism to a given area.

 
“I aim to create vibrant places that are filled with color and positivity, helping and hoping to change the lives of people,” he said. “I want people to stop looking at the pavement and start looking up and around.”

 
San Miguel teased his upcoming display in a series of Instagram posts this week.
“Something big is happening now at @seaportbos Boston,” he wrote, alongside a photograph of one of his covered-up sculptures.

 
Kara Elliott-Ortega, the city’s chief of arts and culture, praised San Miguel’s work and said Boston strives to feature public art in meaningful ways.

 
“We extend a warm welcome to Okuda for this exciting public installation,” she said.

 
San Miguel also has a colorful mural on display at City Hall Plaza this week, part of the “We The Future” public art exhibition for HUBweek.

 
Called “Mermaids and Other Magical Creatures,” the 40-by-18-foot painting was influenced by the sculptures set up in the Seaport and ties in a similar color scheme, according to a press release.

 
By Steve Annear